03-03-2002, 04:34 PM
Dan,<br>
<br>
sorry to reply late.<br>
<br>
<b><i>Quote:</i></b><hr> When ancient battlefields occur on an alluvial plain, where sediments can add meters of material over the original site, we may never locate them exactly.<hr><br>
<br>
You are right. In the area of Kalkreise, whether it was the site of the Varus battle or not, farming has played a major role for centuries. As far as I understand from the people I talked to, prior to the invention of artificial fertilizer, mould from the woodlands was brought to the fields. Over centuries this would mean a serious elevation of the ground level. Indeed the archeologists at Kalkriese had to dig quite a hole to get to the Roman level.<br>
<br>
As for the fortification: Referring to my information Arminius (his name was most certainly not Hermann) served in the Roman army. If this is true, he would know how he could take advantage of the ground and how to fortify his positions, even if we suppose that his troops did not.<br>
<br>
Regarding the debris trail: In an exhibition catalogue from 1995 I found a map of that particular area showing a trail of Roman finds, as referred to, about 5,5 km long.<br>
<br>
Dan, I am not pounding on the theory that Kalkriese is the site of the Varus battle. Maybe you are right and lots of others are wrong. However, we cannot disregard the fact that something happened there, in the right period, which was not a minor skirmish. This is based finds and publications.<br>
<br>
Finally Dan, this has nothing to do with holy shrines and ridiculous monuments. If someone wants that green guy he can take it along with my blessing. We are here to discuss Roman military history. Take your sneering to your local pub.<br>
No offence intended.<br>
<br>
Helge<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
sorry to reply late.<br>
<br>
<b><i>Quote:</i></b><hr> When ancient battlefields occur on an alluvial plain, where sediments can add meters of material over the original site, we may never locate them exactly.<hr><br>
<br>
You are right. In the area of Kalkreise, whether it was the site of the Varus battle or not, farming has played a major role for centuries. As far as I understand from the people I talked to, prior to the invention of artificial fertilizer, mould from the woodlands was brought to the fields. Over centuries this would mean a serious elevation of the ground level. Indeed the archeologists at Kalkriese had to dig quite a hole to get to the Roman level.<br>
<br>
As for the fortification: Referring to my information Arminius (his name was most certainly not Hermann) served in the Roman army. If this is true, he would know how he could take advantage of the ground and how to fortify his positions, even if we suppose that his troops did not.<br>
<br>
Regarding the debris trail: In an exhibition catalogue from 1995 I found a map of that particular area showing a trail of Roman finds, as referred to, about 5,5 km long.<br>
<br>
Dan, I am not pounding on the theory that Kalkriese is the site of the Varus battle. Maybe you are right and lots of others are wrong. However, we cannot disregard the fact that something happened there, in the right period, which was not a minor skirmish. This is based finds and publications.<br>
<br>
Finally Dan, this has nothing to do with holy shrines and ridiculous monuments. If someone wants that green guy he can take it along with my blessing. We are here to discuss Roman military history. Take your sneering to your local pub.<br>
No offence intended.<br>
<br>
Helge<br>
<p></p><i></i>
If you run away from an archer...
